Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler was excited to challenge the other backs behind him on the team's depth chart this offseason.
"I want these guys to come challenge me. Like, let’s go. Bring it... That’s what I hope their mindset is," Ekeler told The Athletic's Daniel Popper this offseason. The Chargers really couldn't get any other backs on the field consistently in 2021, because, as Ekeler noted, "I’m going to be the most efficient on the field. They [the Chargers] are going to want me on the field all the time." Ekeler was a true workhorse last season on his way to an RB2 finish in PPR fantasy formats, but could cede some work to rookie Isaiah Spiller in 2022: if Spiller rises to the challenge.
Even with increased competition in his backfield, it's hard not to be optimistic about Ekeler's fantasy outlook for the 2022 season. Our models project him for 274 fantasy points, good for a finish as the RB4. Only Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, and Christian McCaffrey are projected for more fantasy points than Ekeler this season.
Source: Daniel Popper, The Athletic